GT247.com Trading Blog

Au Revoir Lonmin

Written by Paul Chakaduka | 10 Jun 2019

World Equity markets provided yet another strong performance on Monday as the risk on trade gathers momentum.  The JSE recorded the 6 consecutive positive close for the month of June, as world markets continued to advance on the back of interest rate cuts in the US. The Trump administration has indicated that it will not raise tariffs on Mexico as the Mexican government has shown signs that it will control the “caravan” of immigrants from South America.

Chinese markets played catch-up on Monday after having been closed for a public holiday on Friday. The Hang Seng advanced 2.27% whilst the Shanghai based CSI 300 was up 1.29%, Tencent holdings [700:Hk] gained 3.81% to close the day at $343 HKD.

Lonmin Plc [JSE:LON] bade farewell to the JSE today as the platinum giant concluded the take over from Sibanye Gold [JSE:SGL]. Shareholders in Lonmin Plc [JSE:LON] will receive Sibanye Gold [JSE:SGL] shares for their shareholding. It is fitting to say au revoir to the mining giant that has managed to pull herself out of quicksand after years of recording losses.  The management will surely pop their last bottles (if they have not already) of fine French Champagne to mark the end of their 110year history, which could have ended in disaster if management had failed to beautify the old lass for takeover from Sibanye gold.

The Tongaat Hulett [JSE:TON] debacle took another turn on Monday as management of the Sugar producer requested the suspension in the trading of their shares.  This course of action was taken by management after they announced last week that they will delay the release of their financials.  The restated results are expected to be released in October 2019, the group anticipates that the company’s securities will remain suspended until then.  The company has stated that it may ask for an earlier reinstatement of trading in their shares if there is need to do so. Before its suspension on the JSE Tongaat Hulett was trading at 1321c a level last seen in 1993, 3 years after ;listing in August of 1990.

The pendulum swung in favour of the retailers, financials and the property stocks on the local bourse today. Strong gains were posted by Rebosis Property Fund [JSE:REB] , Dis-Chem Pharmacies [JSE:DCP]  and Woolworths Holdings [JSE:WHL] which advanced 7.32%,  5.65% and 4.76% respectively.  

The rand hedges were weaker today after having posted strong gains since the beginning of the month.  The mining stocks retreated the most today Royal Bafokeng Platinum [JSE:RBP], ArcelorMittal[JSE:ACL], Harmony Gold  [JSE:HAR] and Anglogold Ashanti [JSE:ANG],  shed 7.99%, 5.92%, 4.95% and 4.67% respectively.

The JSE All-Share index closed 0.38% firmer whilst the JSE Top-40 index gained 0.48%. The Resource index was firmer on the day gaining 2.19%, the Industrials gained 0.94% whilst the Financials shed 2.54%.

At 17.00 CAT, Palladium was 2.11% firmer to trade at $1384/Oz, Platinum was firmer recording gains of 0.21% to trade at $807.90/Oz, whilst Gold was 0.95% weaker to trade at $1333.45/Oz.

Brent crude was flat on the day as a barrel of crude was changing hands at $63.26 per barrel at 17:00 CAT.

The Rand was firmer on the day as the currency market saw more risk on trades. The Rand was trading at R14.76 against the $USD, R16.72 to the Euro and R18.75 to the Pound Sterling.

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